THE Church of Scotland has accused SNP ministers of diminishing the role of the family with its plans for state guardians for every child.

The Scottish Government wants a named person, a health worker or senior teacher, to oversee how each child is raised up to age 18.

The idea has drawn criticism from the legal profession and civil liberties campaigners who believe it would be disproportionate state interference.

Now the Church of Scotland has spoken out against the Children and Young People Bill. The Reverend Sally Foster-Fulton, convener of the Kirk’s Church and Society Council, said: “The family is the fundamental unit of society.

“The concept of a named person diminishes the role of parents, with no obvious benefit for the most vulnerable in society, a point we have consistently made in our responses to the Scottish Government and to the Parliament’s Education Committee. MSPs must ask themselves: will this proposal do anything other than reduce the time professionals, such as nurses and school staff, have to support children who really need help, without providing a useful service to anyone else?”

It comes just months after the SNP was warned such a system would cost £10million a year.

The Scottish Government said the contentious scheme would be paid for with an initial £7.8million, plus another £10million to cover 2015-17.

Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People, is adamant that the measures are necessary, despite opposition from the Faculty of Advocates, teaching union the EIS and civil liberties campaign Big Brother Watch.

She said: “Misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the named person role have given rise to extraordinary claims that the legislation will introduce ‘state snoopers.’

“I don’t doubt that, among those who still have concerns, there is a shared desire to do the best for our children. As we work to implement the reforms, I am committed to doing everything I can to allay any remaining concerns.